PTDF begins nationwide interviews for 5,885 shortlisted candidates

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund has commenced nationwide interviews for 5,885 shortlisted Nigerians drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory under its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme.

The exercise, which began on Tuesday, is being conducted simultaneously across six centres nationwide and is expected to run until April 17, according to officials of the fund.

Speaking at the kickoff in Abuja, the Deputy General Manager, Education and Training, PTDF, Bello Mustapha, said the interview process started as scheduled after a briefing session with panel members.

He explained that the exercise was structured to cover all geopolitical zones, with designated centres in Abuja for the North-Central, Bauchi for the North-East, Kaduna for the North-West, Rivers for the South-South, Enugu for the South-East, and Oyo for the South-West.

Mustapha noted that the selection process would be guided strictly by merit and the federal character principle to ensure fairness and balanced representation across states.

According to him, the shortlisted candidates would compete for limited slots in partner institutions across key international destinations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.

He said, “We are here to commence the interview process for the 2026–2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme. The interviews are taking place concurrently in six centres across the country.

“Over 38,000 people applied for this programme, but we shortlisted 5,885 candidates for the interviews. This shows how competitive the process is.”

Findings indicate that the 2026 cycle has recorded a significant increase in applications compared to the previous year, thereby intensifying competition among candidates.

Data obtained showed that in 2025, the fund received over 29,000 applications for both Master’s and PhD programmes, with about 5,000 candidates shortlisted for interviews.

However, in 2026, applications rose sharply to over 38,000, representing an increase of about 31 per cent. In contrast, the number of shortlisted candidates grew by only 17.7 per cent, from 5,000 to 5,885.

This imbalance has led to a decline in the overall selection rate. While approximately 17.2 per cent of applicants were shortlisted in 2025, the figure dropped to about 15.5 per cent in the current cycle.

Mustapha attributed the shortlisting process to a rigorous screening system designed to assess candidates based on measurable academic and professional criteria.

He explained that applicants must meet minimum academic qualifications, including First Class, Second Class Upper, or in some cases Second Class Lower with relevant work experience, to be considered.

In addition, candidates’ academic records, including O-Level results, are graded as part of the evaluation process.

“We have our own parameters. You must meet those criteria before you are invited. If you have strong academic records, including good grades in key subjects, you earn higher scores. It is the total score that determines who is shortlisted,” he said.

On concerns regarding fairness and regional balance, the PTDF official stressed that the final selection would strictly follow the federal character principle, with oversight from the Federal Character Commission.

He explained that each state is allocated a specific number of slots, ensuring equitable distribution of opportunities across the country.

“For instance, if three MSc slots are assigned per state, then each state will produce three successful candidates. However, some oil-producing states may receive additional slots,” he added.

Mustapha further clarified that while candidates are allowed to attend interviews at any centre nationwide, their final selection would still be based on their state of origin in line with federal character requirements.

“You can attend your interview in any centre of your choice, but when it comes to final selection, federal character is applied,” he said.

He, however, declined to disclose the exact number of candidates that would eventually receive the scholarship, noting that the figure would depend on available funding.

“The number of successful candidates will depend on the budget. Management will determine that based on the financial provisions available,” he stated.

The PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme is one of the Federal Government’s flagship initiatives aimed at building capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector through advanced training in top international institutions.